"To Bethlem did they go, the shepherds three;
To Bethlem did they go to see whe'r it were so or no,
Whether Christ were born or no
To set men free."

Masters, in this hall,
Hear ye news to-day
Brought over sea,
And ever I you pray.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Going over the hills,
Through the milk-white snow,
Heard I ewes bleat
While the wind did blow.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Shepherds many an one
Sat among the sheep;
No man spake more word
Than they had been asleep.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Quoth I 'Fellows mine,
Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer,
Shepherds though ye be?

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

'Shepherds should of right
Leap and dance and sing;
Thus to see ye sit
Is a right strange thing.'

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Quoth these fellows then
'To Bethlem town we go,
To see a Mighty Lord
Lie in manger low.'

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

'How name ye this Lord,
Shepherds?' then said I.
'Very God' they said,
'Come from Heaven high.'

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Then to Bethlem town
We went two and two,
And in a sorry place
Heard the oxen low.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Therein did we see
A sweet and goodly May,
And a fair old man;
Upon the straw she lay.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

And a little CHILD
On her arm had she;
'Wot ye who this is?'
Said the hinds to me.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

Ox and ass him know,
Kneeling on their knee:
Wondrous joy had I
This little BABE to see.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear

This is CHRIST the Lord,
Masters, be ye glad!
Christmas is come in,
And no folk should be sad.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
Sing we clear!
Holpen are all folk on earth,
Born is God's Son so dear